National City Teachers Could Call Strike Soon

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National City labor leaders will decide at a meeting this afternoon whether public-school teachers there could go soon on strike.

SAN DIEGO  National City public school teachers could go on strike soon over issues including furlough days and larger class sizes. Labor leaders will decide at a meeting this afternoon.

After several weeks of picket lines and threats, the executive board of the National City Elementary Teacher’s Association will vote whether a teacher strike is the only option they have at this point.

Late last year, National City teachers gave their union leaders the power to call a strike. Now it’s up to the leaders to set a deadline.

Union president Linda Cartwright says she’s hoping to hear from the district in order to avert a walk-out.

“They know that we have this meeting. We’re still hopeful that we may get a phone call from the district to set another meeting to negotiate. Again, the key is to reach a fair settlement,” Cartwright said.

The union and district, however, are already preparing parents for a strike. Substitute teachers would be expected to fill the void. Negotiations fell part over district-imposed furlough days, a modified school calendar and larger class sizes.